What Do You Know About Stress?

Slow traffic. Screaming children. A job interview. Financial problems. A crumbling marriage. Any of these could be a stressful situation. We all face stress in our lives, and some days are more stressful than others. Stress can take its toll on our physical and mental health. Learn more about stress and its effects by taking this multiple-choice quiz.

1. Which gland in your body is responsible for the stress response?

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When you feel stress, the pituitary gland, at the base of the brain, increases its production of the hormone ACTH. This hormone tells the adrenal glands, found at the top of your kidneys, to increase their production of hormones. These stress hormones help you to concentrate, speed your reaction time, and boost your strength. Your hypothalamus also helps your body respond to stress.

A. Lymph glandB. Pituitary glandC. Thyroid glandD. All of the above

2. Acute stress is the most common form of stress. Which of these can cause acute stress?

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Acute stress is exciting in small doses. Too much acute stress is exhausting, and can lead to distress, tension headaches, and upset stomach.

A. Inadvertently sending your car into a skid on slick pavementB. Skiing downhill on a difficult slopeC. Making a presentation before a roomful of peopleD. Any of the above

3. Which of these is a symptom of acute stress?

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Other common symptoms include anger, irritability, anxiety, back or jaw pain, rapid heartbeat, nausea, shortness of breath, and cold hands or feet.

A. HeartburnB. DiarrheaC. Sweaty palmsD. DizzinessE. All of the above

4. Chronic stress is the stress that wears at people day after day. Which of these is an example of chronic stress?

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Chronic stress occurs when a person loses hope for changing what he or she sees is a miserable situation. The long-term aspect of chronic stress takes its toll on both the body and the mind. Eventually, it can lead to disability and death through heart attack, stroke, violence, or suicide.

A. An unhappy marriageB. Ongoing money problemsC. Dissatisfaction with a jobD. All of the above

5. Stress can affect not only your health, but also other aspects of your life. What else can be affected by stress?

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People who are under stress become so involved in their own situation that they forget about other people. Because they are feeling stressed, however, they often begin taking out their feelings on family and friends. At work, stress over the long term can make it difficult to concentrate and can lead to poor decision making. Because stress makes it hard to concentrate, people under stress may be more likely to have accidents.

A. Family relationshipsB. Work performanceC. Your attention to safetyD. All of the above

6. Which of these suggestions is an effective way to deal with stress?

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Meditating for 20 minutes a day may help relieve chronic stress and increase your tolerance to it. Exercise is another effective way to handle stress; 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day helps not only your stress level, but also your overall health. Be sure to check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program. Sharing your problems with others can help you deal with stress by letting you know you're not alone. Friends and family can give you support when you're feeling under pressure. Other ideas for dealing with stress include learning to say "no" if you feel you have more to do than you can handle; using your imagination to picture how you can manage a stressful situation; tackling one urgent task at a time instead of feeling overwhelmed by many tasks; eating healthy foods and limiting your intake of alcohol and caffeine; and getting enough sleep.